Phantom Fingers | Teen Ink

Phantom Fingers

January 7, 2014
By RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner


I call them
Phantom fingers.
The thoughts that sneak
Into your head without
Setting off the alarms
That you had placed in order to keep
Them out.

These thoughts can be about
Anything,
As long as it's dark
And twisted and
Disturbing to any
Outside eye.
You keep them locked up
In your head so no
One will know how messed up
You really are.
They'd call you crazy,
Look away in disgust,
Laugh because of the fear
That fills their mind.

But who are they to judge?
Everyone has these and
It's not their fault.
Some have more than others
And those people are called
Insane, mentally disturbed,
Psychotic.

And yet, you would call me
Crazy too if you saw what was
Lurking up in my head.
You would see the hate
And the anger so thick
And bristling with life,
Ready to lash out and
Show the world who
I really am.

You look away,
Disgusted
And I put away my toys
Like a good little girl.
I realize then that
No one will admit to
Having phantom fingers
Because of what people would think.

People wonder why I
Don't open up.
This is why.
The phantom fingers come
When I least expect and by then
You already hate me,
Can't stand to look at me,
Say that you have to go to that
Appointment that you had forgotten until
Now and I'm sick of it.

I'm sick of having people ask me
If everything is all right
And having them say that I'm not
Being social enough.
How can I when I'm
Too afraid that they'll see through
My polite smile or my
False laugh?

So I'll be nice
And quiet
And polite
And gentle
During the day.
And I'll let these dark thoughts
Run loose at night
When nobody can see how
Broken I am.



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This article has 23 comments.


on Feb. 5 2014 at 3:08 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you so much!

on Feb. 5 2014 at 3:07 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you! :D

on Feb. 4 2014 at 11:01 pm
Bay_Renee SILVER, Brinkhaven, Ohio
7 articles 2 photos 37 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Kites rise the highest when going against the wind."
-Winston Churchill

   This is amazingly relatable, especially as a writer- you always have these thoughts swirling around in your head and, if anyone knew you were thinking them, they'd realize how crazy you really are, haha. Loved this- wonderfully written!

on Feb. 4 2014 at 10:07 pm
PineWildfires SILVER, Charlestown, Indiana
6 articles 0 photos 17 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power."
-Abraham Lincoln

Beautiful! Completely relatable! And I especially love the last stanza. :D

on Feb. 4 2014 at 7:22 am
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you so much!

dinks PLATINUM said...
on Feb. 3 2014 at 10:35 pm
dinks PLATINUM, Hinsdale, Illinois
28 articles 0 photos 80 comments

Favorite Quote:
"and kisses are a better faith than freedom"

I love the topic, definetly something most can relate to. I really enjoyed this poem, keep it up!

on Jan. 31 2014 at 4:59 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you! Introversion can be a beautiful thing but for people that actually are introverted, it seems more like torture. I have very mixed feelings about it since I'm an introvert.

on Jan. 31 2014 at 4:58 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you!

mnm08 BRONZE said...
on Jan. 30 2014 at 11:35 pm
mnm08 BRONZE, Grande Prairie, Texas
2 articles 0 photos 69 comments

Favorite Quote:
"A writer needs the industry of an ant, the creativity of a kitten and the hid of an armadillo."- Author Unknown

Again, very relatable. I think introversion is beautiful and your writing expresses this. REally good job. 

on Jan. 27 2014 at 9:14 am
Canadotas PLATINUM, Harrisonburg, Virginia
24 articles 0 photos 36 comments

Favorite Quote:
“As our circle of knowledge expands, so does the circumference of darkness surrounding it.” --Albert Einstein

Wow, that was really cool. I can relate to that a lot. It was really well expressed. Five stars for sure!

on Jan. 17 2014 at 5:01 pm
Myvoice4change SILVER, Other, Other
9 articles 3 photos 164 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Everything will be ok in the end. If it's not okay, it's not the end."

I agree with writing.is.my.life, very relatable and well written! 5 stars!!

on Jan. 15 2014 at 9:01 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you so much! I'm introverted too and so that was what I had thought when I read it over again. Thank you!

on Jan. 15 2014 at 7:42 pm
writing.is.my.life. SILVER, Newburgh, New York
7 articles 0 photos 29 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Philippians 4:13

"Perspective is a lovely hand to hold." -Matthew Thiessen

This is really relateable, especially since I'm really introverted. You worded everything beautifully! Keep up the good work!

on Jan. 13 2014 at 4:18 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you!

on Jan. 13 2014 at 3:26 pm
NaaThompson GOLD, Allston, Massachusetts
10 articles 0 photos 74 comments

Favorite Quote:
If you don't like someone's story, write your own. -Chinua Achebe

Awesome!!! I am kind of quite and polite when I first meet people so I can relate. 

on Jan. 13 2014 at 7:01 am
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

The breaks were completely my fault but maybe I could try to incorporate that into my poem. Lazy poet's chance to be even more lazy! Thank you for the criticism, it'll help when I re write it.

on Jan. 12 2014 at 8:07 pm
BandGeekAndProud PLATINUM, Burlington, Massachusetts
23 articles 0 photos 49 comments

Favorite Quote:
"Imagination is more important than knowledge."
Albert Einstein

This was really nice, very relatable, as I think everyone has those dark, twisted thoughts. If I could say one thing, I would say the line breaks are a little awkward at times. But tht could have been for effect, I don't know. Anyway, good job!

on Jan. 12 2014 at 3:50 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you so much!

on Jan. 12 2014 at 2:53 pm
Shahrier PLATINUM, Colma, California
28 articles 10 photos 110 comments

Favorite Quote:
"I'm a river that no longer flows" - a friend
"when the people lead, leaders follow" - Gandhi

this is so true to life. this is so true to my life. just the meaning, what the poem says, is enough to... just wow. i loved this. and it flowed very well too. i tried looking for things i can suggest you to fix, and i have none. 5 stars 

on Jan. 12 2014 at 2:32 pm
RoyalCorona SILVER, Grand Rapids, Michigan
7 articles 0 photos 290 comments

Favorite Quote:
All of us fave failed to match our dream of perfection. I rate us on the basis of our splendid failure to do the impossible. -William Faulkner

Thank you!